LibGuides: Instructional Resources for Library Instructors: Optimize Your LibGuides

Using LibGuides to Teach

This guide provides information on best practices for creating LibGuides, as well as guidelines for creating and maintaining your guides. These best practices and guidelines are largely user-focused, and their purpose is to make our guides easier for our library patrons to find and use, as well as to ensure that our guides are as accessible as possible.

Making Accessible Resources

Making Accessible Word Documents

Include alternative text with images and tables
Use built-in headings and styles
Use hyperlink text, don't just include the link

Note: If you are using Word, Powerpoint or Excel, there is a built in accessibility checker you can use.

Making Accessible PowerPoints

Describe any images using alt text. Recommendations are descriptive text should be limited to 120 characters. Imagine describing this image to someone over the phone (Michigan State University Resource)
Use a table of contents and headers in your slides (Michigan State University Resource)
Use contrasting background and text colors

Using LibGuides for Instruction

Your LibGuides should be organized with your user in mind. How might you be able to use your LibGuides differently to facilitate remote instruction?

Your LibGuide can be integrated into a Canvas class as a resource. Please refer to Library Services in Canvas for more information.
LibGuides can be used effectively to organize resources or link to additional relevant content, including trial databases and online collections.
Think about the learning outcomes you have for your instruction sessions, and how your LibGuide can support those outcomes.
Consider how your LibGuide may fit into your lesson plan. It may be more useful for your guide to focus on assignment support, or on a clear user-task that complements your instruction session.